INTRODUCTION: Obesity is a chronic, multifactorial and complex disease associated with an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Vascular endothelial dysfunction is an early event in the pathophysiological continuum of atherosclerotic process. The prolonged exposure of vascular endothelium to classical and obesity associated risk factors (insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, proinflammatory state) could further promote deterioration of endothelial function and progression of atherosclerosis to subclinical or clinical form of disease. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to compare the concentration of soluble forms of adhesion molecules, intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and E-selectin (sE-selectin), between obese subjects and normal weight healthy subjects, as well as to determine the possible existence of differences in concentration of sICAM-1 and sE-selectin among subjects with subclinical stage of atherosclerosis (assessed by measuring the thickness